UK Immigration System Overhaul: Key Reforms and Implications

Strategic Insights -

The UK Home Office has introduced significant changes to the country's immigration system, following the Immigration White Paper: Restoring Control Over the Immigration System. The reforms aim to reduce reliance on overseas labour while promoting high-skilled migration and strengthening control over immigration. The key changes include raising the Skilled Worker visa threshold to degree level (RQF 6), increasing salary thresholds, and introducing a Temporary Shortage List for certain sub-degree level roles.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Skilled Worker visa threshold has been raised from RQF Level 5 to RQF Level 6 (degree-level roles), with transitional protections applying to current visa holders in roles at levels 3 to 5.
  • The general salary threshold for Skilled Worker visas has risen from £38,700 to £41,700, while the threshold for new entrants has increased from £30,960 to £33,400.
  • A new Temporary Shortage List has been introduced, allowing certain sub-degree level roles to remain eligible for Skilled Worker visas on a time-limited basis.
  • The Global Business Mobility - UK Expansion Worker route has been updated, doubling the number of workers an overseas business can send to the UK.
  • The Adult Social Care visa route has been closed to new overseas recruitment, but existing sponsored workers in the UK can extend their visas, change sponsors, or apply for settlement.
  • Planned reforms aim to shorten the Graduate visa from two years to 18 months to encourage quicker progression into graduate-level jobs.
  • The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has been tasked with reviewing the new salary thresholds and Temporary Shortage List, with recommendations expected in early 2026.

Statistics:

  • The Skilled Worker visa threshold has been raised to RQF Level 6, effective from 22 July 2025.
  • The general salary threshold for Skilled Worker visas has increased from £38,700 to £41,700 for new applications and renewals.
  • The threshold for new entrants has risen from £30,960 to £33,400.
  • The number of workers an overseas business can send to the UK under the Global Business Mobility - UK Expansion Worker route has been doubled from five to ten.
  • The Graduate visa will be shortened from two years to 18 months, pending planned reforms.

Sources:

  • UK Home Office, Immigration White Paper: Restoring Control Over the Immigration System, available at [www.gov.uk](http://www.gov.uk).
  • CCS Law, "UK Immigration System Overhaul: Key Reforms and Implications", available at [www.ccs.law](http://www.ccs.law).
  • Mondaq Ltd, "UK Immigration System Overhaul: Key Reforms and Implications", available at [www.mondaq.com](http://www.mondaq.com).